R A I Y A
G E A R H A R T
||| ||| |||
|| Elven {possible hybrid~?} || Immortal ||
T H E N
|||- Nomad, Fugitive, Warlord, Dragon Rider -|||
__________
The begining is hazy
Much like how one never recalls the start of a D R E A M
||| N O M A D
She grew up astride the back of her guardian, Obsidian. The elf and the dire wolf led a nomadic life, traveling the planet at their leasure for as long as Raiya could remember.
Dangers of such a life were inevitable, for they occasionally found themselves in the crossfire of multiple wars, territory disputes between opposing civilizations, and tracked by hunters who so desperately desired the ancient wolf's hide. It was still a quiet, peaceful life for the majority of it, and it was a life that they were both content with. As Raiya grew older, her desire for knowledge and new experiences grew. Obsidian eventually allowed her to go off and visit populated areas when they stopped to rest, and he stayed out of sight with a watchful eye. Raiya socialized and learned from those she encountered, picking up various skills such as different languages, cultures, self-defense methods, healing, and much more. Raiya found that each place provided a different skill, and she could not get enough. Obsidian would always appear again after a few weeks, and he and Raiya would continue on their way.
They had no home of their own, and they never stayed in one place for too long. Raiya was fully content with this lifestyle.
Until, that is, She met Maigra Lainé.
||| F U G I T I V E
It was a chance happening, and one that would alter the course of life as she knew it. Raiya and Obsidian ran into Maigra Lainé, an ex-member of the infamous Warlord Army, and Leer, her black-feathered dragon companion, while ambushing a slaver's squadron as they transported their newest haul of prisoners. The four of them quickly subdued the slavers and freed those imprisoned. The squadron leader used his final breaths to mock Raiya and Mai, stating that they have done nothing but brush dust away from the surface, and had saved no one in the long run. The women soon found leads to the potential headquarters and, filled with determination to sever the head from the snake, began to plan their attack. Leer and Obsidian warned them to leave it be, but did they listen? Absolutely not. Alas, the pair were inevitably captured and faced horrors untold within a gargantuan underground slaver's prison.
Yet their spirits remained unbroken, and their treatment only fuled their motivation. The two ultimately broke free, and their escape and aquisition of the prison's database ultimately led to the violent self-destruction of the entire facility.
Raiya was absolutely devastated at the loss of so many innocent lives. Mai argued that that the lives sacrificed are miniscule in number compared to the lives saved in the future. Thus was the mentality of a Warlord, and it was a mentality that Raiya had yet to accept.
The four of them had to flee due to the following investigations. Raiya and Obsidian found a home with Mai and Leer, and they all lived together for a bit over a year. During this time, Raiya helped Mai study the lands and the creatures in it, and Mai taught Raiya various forms of advanced skills. Obsidian still had the heart of a Nomad, and soon became restless. He wished that he and Raiya move on, yet the elf protested. She enjoyed what she was doing with Mai, and felt like she had much still to learn. Mai found a solution; she would reach out to a colligue for a due favor;
And thus, Raiya and Obsidian traveled to the Warlord territory, and Raiya was taken under General Creed's wing.
||| W A R L O R D
Their initial arrival to the Warlord territory was met with quiet hostility from all of the high-ranking generals. General Creed himself seemed quite disgruntled that he had to take the young elf under his wing, yet he kept true to his promise to Mai, and took on the roll of Raiya's mentor.
Raiya was no stranger to magic and its many uses, yet Creed mentored her on exactly how magic worked. The physics, the theories, he overall taught her to better grasp exactly what magic was, how it interacted with the planet's many elements, and how it can be paired with more "artificial" components to enhance desired powers. Raiya gained a much deeper understanding of how to use magic, and thus, her abilities and strength increased tenfold.
Magic was not the only skillset that Raiya sharpened. She partook in weapons training and routine sparring matches with the other soldiers, hence honing her combat techniques both with and without weaponry.
Her time as a soldier did not come without qualms. The Warlords were a brutal bunch, and they relied on the strength of their teams and the strength of the army as a whole to survive. Any form of weakness in a soldier was seen as a threat to the rest of the squad, and hence, weakness was not tolerated.
Raiya got into frequent verbal spats with one of the Grandmasters, Mitchel Blade, most commonly known as “Wrath." Accurately titled, the inflammatory personality of the Grandmaster did not mesh well with Raiya's unsubmissive temperament, and those verbal spats quickly escalated into a physical altercations. The altercations proved to be a source of both amusement and annoyance to the colleges that had to pull them apart.
As time wore on, she began to gain a better understanding of the complicated world they lived in. The more she learned about the world, the more she learned about herself and the history of those she lived with. One could say that she learned a little too much. The familiar feeling of restlessness grew. One final and brutal battle with Wrath left them both with severe injuries; That was the final straw in the elf's mind. Raiya was no Warlord. She never could be; the difference between her nature and theirs was far too stark.
Raiya gained Creed's permission and forgiveness, and she withdrew from the Warlord army.
||| D R A G O N . R I D E R
The Empire of the Night-Winged, or more commonly known as "Nightwing." It was one of the two segments of the whole planet that was entirely untouched by the modern world, and it was completely and viciously free from the influence of outside forces. The gargantuan territory and all who dwelled in it were ruled under the fierce and watchful eye of Kaida and her trusted Draconian council. The territory was as great and feral as the beasts that called it home, and it was there that Raiya found her own true home for many, many years.
After Obsidian's departure, she found herself bonding with a dire Dragoness by the name of Atheria. Atheria was the mate of Chanook, the Dragon who ruled the lower crescent of the Empire.
Raiya and Atheria collaborated with their many companions to help build and defend the Empire. Raiya flew with the kings and queens of the sky, she fought wars side by side with friends, she helped nurture the young dragons and new life that blossomed during times of peace.
She learned, she loved, she thrived,
;---- and she l o s t,
The Empire of the Night-Winged met its premature and devastating end.
N O W
| | | - Drifter, Redemption, Keeper -| | |
__________
" --- You must live o n "
||| D R I F T E R
Raiya experienced death on that fateful day. The mental bond between Dragon and Rider allows the pair to share feelings, sensations, thoughts and notions even from afar. Raiya felt everything when Atheria fell to her violent and abrupt end, and with the loss of her partner, a part of Raiya died too.
Once she scrounged up enough strength to travel again, Raiya searched the ravaged territory for any signs of life. Any hope she had of finding those she cherished was quick to dissolve ;; with every death confirmed and every life unaccounted for, it became all too real that the life she knew was over.
Raiya began to withdraw deeper and deeper into herself. For the first time in her long life, she was truly, completely, and terribly alone.
||| R E D E M P T I O N
Light has an odd way of reaching even the darkest corners;; A gleam of hope was birthed by the unexpected meeting of Naomi Shimura.
Raiya's adaptation to life in the bigger city was a smooth transition thanks to Naomi's help. Rehabilitation came with time, and soon enough, Raiya found purpose once more.
||| K E E P E R
Omnia Oddities is Raiya's current "project." This two-story shop features a library on the top, and a general oddities shop below. It appears fairly normal to the untrained eye, yet Omnia provides necessary items and valuable tools for magic users. Some of these commodities include ritual tools, healing supplies, various herbs, stones and a plethora of other things both on display and hidden away. Ask nicely, and she may have it.
One best mind their step and keep ill intents at the door: Omnia is guarded by an array enchanted beings that are hidden in sight. These creatures become self-activated upon the detection of a thief or a patron with sinister intents both towards the shop or its keeper.
Comments
A loud, annoying siren blared throughout the studio, one that would be used in basketball games. What followed next was something Novak wasn't expecting in the slightest. On the platform his ankles were chained on, a compartment opened between his feet, and a boxing glove sprung up with considerable force up to the place between his legs. His legs lost all balance he had, and a pain that was equivalent to being stabbed overtook all of his senses. Novak fell to his knees and his forehead hit the platform as he groaned in pain.
"OOOOOH THAT WASN'T THE ANSWER WE WERE LOOKIN FOR MISS. THE CORRECT ANSWER WAS THE HYDRA!!"
Even though in pain, Novak was getting furious. How the hell did he know this? Who was this plastic host? Novak couldn't tell, he's done things that have made both made gods and monsters seek vengeance on him, and there were too many to count. A monster couldn't have made an illusion such as this so vivid, to the point he was in pain. It had to be a god, or a minor one. Eventually, Novak lifted his head to glare at the host.
"The next question!" The host spoke up, clearing his throat as he had a new card in his hand. "Does Novak have feelings for m-"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Novak shouted. What happened next occurred in a blink of an eye. He flicked his arm at the host, spraying darts in his general direction, and would have impaled him if he didn't turn into mist. All of a sudden, the bright, colorful setting around them turned into darkness. Raiya and Novak were in absolute darkness, only able to see each other. The pain was beginning to decrease all of a sudden as Novak slowly got to his feet.
IS THAT HOW IT'S GOING TO BE?
A blazing, wild fire surrounded them, the heat and smoke were real enough. If Raiya looked over at Novak, his eyes were wide and terror was written over his face. He was frozen in place as fear took over thought, there was nowhere he could run, he felt as if were going to be engulfed by the flames as his mother was.
I JUST WANTED TO PLAY A GAME, YOU HAD TO DESTROY THAT TOO, NOW DIDN'T YOU?
Yanked to his feet it was hardly her strength that surprised him. He stumbled a bit as she aimed him for the woods, his face twisted in confusion. Was that English?
He, much like her, constantly glanced back over his shoulder. He was trying to get a good look at her, because until a moment ago he was sure she wasn't human. She had two arms, two legs, was certainly female, but there was something else. Something in her features. Plus, this wasn't Earth(right?), so whatever she was, it couldn't be human. But her tone as much as her words told him he needed to be careful in what he was doing. He gave up and set his eyes straight. There was so much to process, let alone apply protocol to. He tried to collect his thoughts, but stumbled over his words.
"You'er a...we uh, we come in..." He didn't finish his sentence, no need to insult her intelligence. "Look, I'm not your enemy. Do you understand? Where are you taking me?"
She was considerably faster than he was, and had learned enough, it seemed, to threaten to decapitate him. That didn't mean he wasn't weighing his options and planning an attack. He'd be damned if he marched to his own execution. Getting away from his problems back home wasn't enough, there were people he had to go back for, and he couldn't do that dead.
As he watched her rummage through the cabinet, his arms had crossed in front of himself nonchalantly. It wasn't until the keyword came that his eyes lit up with a glint of surprise. His arms quickly unraveled from one another in order to raise and catch the tin. He heard and felt the contents inside shake when it landed. Holding it in one hand his curiosity overtook patience and the lid was pried open. The smells of each assaulted his senses at the same time, and so he picked a few out to get a better clue.
Spencer's brows knit together to the complication of trying to form an image in his mind. He had the image of Skya, and the presence of Zoriko to work with. The dragoness herself housed a two legged form, and yet having never lay eyes on it he hardly knew. A murky image was settled upon all the same, as it was all he could put forth. "Perhaps they do... with their own land to be vacant all the same. Even in my travels to seek out just that, I found few to none." The corners of his mouth lowered somewhat thoughtfully. "Such a species to be hidden in that manner... it is a pity. It is a pitty how we live in an increasingly 'human' world all the same."
While his voice sounded as if it were starting either a ramble or a rant, he wouldn't get the chance. Thud. The man's hands loosened on the tin yet managed not to drop as his body jumped in surprise all of a sudden. "Ah! What the-!?" Spencer exclaimed, feeling the force and a nip at his ankle. His shoulders twisted some to look back, head whipping around to follow the little gray creature's path. His silvery hues grew wide, a priceless expression as he watched the living thing.
A glance to Raiya when she snapped out a name. Quickly back to Ragnarok as he leaped his way to the counter no different than a feline. Watching the exchange between the two, while she may have been agitated Spencer wore a bit of a grin. "It appears... that no simple house cat would suffice?" He questioned in an amusingly cheerful tone. His eyes couldn't help but trace the creature's movements until out of sight.
A rather grateful smile was cast to Raiya in response to her reply. "Yes please... have faith for both of us in that regard." He chuckled admittedly. "She wants to learn healing in particular... I thought perhaps we start with magic in a survivalist sense and work our way to more herbal remedies."
\\Mmm, none at the moment no but they usually come once I start to write with the person, though should something come to mind I'll throw it your way before putting it into the roleplay ^^
Spencer made note of the given information in his head, as Raiya made her way into the other room. He watched her from his seat, contemplating shifting in order to follow her into the other room. He wouldn't bother the action when her voice rang out loud and clear through the doorway. The sounds within the kitchen gave hint to what it was she worked on.
"I have yet to cross paths with her... I've heard only what Lenn provided, some time ago at that." He stated, a small shrug of his shoulders not to be seen but happening all the same. "He made it sound as if that old house is vacant, he having settled in the city all the same." A halfhearted smile to the fact. Would the ex-Rider find himself a home in the city all the same..? He had pondered it long and hard yet these visits worked to keep loneliness at bay. To not have the quiet remains a curse in itself.
The man's eyes lit up some when she confirmed a visit all her own. "So she did..?" An upbeat voice spoke out towards the kitchen... it was getting closer as he decided to span the distance to talk in person. A smile was spread across his features and his figure appeared leaning against the doorway. A chuckle came all the same from him at the vision in his head of the small dragoness' hiding. In matching her to the present it came as no surprise. "Perhaps not... but in the least, now here she is."
Rigel. The name was mentioned yet it fell without a look of recognition. Spencer furrowed his brow in thought and yet he shook his head. "I have not... I knew not that Skya had offspring otherwise. Perhaps I found myself out of the territory at the time. Have you..? Is he very akin to his mother?" His head tilted. Once she had given the word he was ready either to sulk on not knowing, or bombard her with further questions.
A lock or two of his mess of hair was moved out of his face gingerly. "Zoriko sought me out several nights prior because she is looking to learn some healing magic... I am by no means fully adept but I promised her what knowledge I have. I was wondering all the same if you carried anything in Omnia that may be of assistance?" And of course... a glance around the shop was always enjoyable to him all the same.
"If it had, I'm afraid it would've belonged to Nightwing." Spencer responded with some amusement. The thought of such a search through the trees on his part brought forth a bit of a smile briefly. By the time it had gone he took a quick glance to where Raiya's eyes had went. There sat the familiar avian, the mystery of where she had acquired the messenger over.
Taking off his cloak and setting his bag aside by the door. Shoes taken off her followed her in soon enough, picking a seat in a chair adjacent to the couch. Spencer settled back into it as his eyes glanced about the space once more. A smile returned when the question was proposed. By the look on his face, he was just as eager to speak as she was to find out. While sorting his thoughts, she had given the offer. His eyes went from his lap back to the other with a hint of contemplation to silver hues. "A cup, I wouldn't mind." He answered with a tilt of his head. "Naomi... Lenn's daughter? She is still with you?" Spencer questioned, almost cheerful to the fact.
Once all was settled, Spencer waited for her to return before he spoke. "...I received a visitor, not more than a week ago. Skya's daughter, Zoriko. I had remembered meeting her only when she was far younger, it has been some time." The corner of his mouth tugged upward some as he recounted. "Rather... she found me. I was returning home for the evening, and there she was."
(Of course I'd still love to continue our storyline. Your absence is fine. I disappear some times too. No worries.)
If she had intent to kill him, he would have been dead. The fact was as clear as the pane of glass he was attempting to peek a look through, ever so intent as he waited for vague hint of a form behind it to open the door and to let him in. It wouldn't, little did he know. It was sneaking up behind the otherwise preoccupied man, and yet... the sound would not fall on deaf ears as his self awareness had.
There was a small 'jump' that went through Spencer. The way he suddenly grew still, shoulders raised a mere quarter inch, feet resting more evenly under him, forgetting about the door a moment after. He stood straighter. Altogether his head would turn to catch sight of the greeting's owner. With whom he saw, the ex-Rider's entire body pivoted and the once modest grin spread almost immediately.
"...Hello again." He uttered as she approached. While she was already moving quick towards home it would do little for his impatience. When close enough he accepted her hug open armed, a small chuckle coming out of it by the time he let go.
"I did. I did... and I was quite surprised in your messenger's visit." He replied amusingly. His mind went to the near half an hour it took to coerce the avian to be still enough to snatch the letter from it (with food of course). In waiting for her to find her keys Spencer stood patiently, nodding his head in thanks when ushered inside. Taking his shoes off by the door he took a moment to glanced around the house. It had been far, far too long from his last visit.
The letter sent, time had passed by per usual. Far too slow a system to be waiting at his window for the raptor's return... and so, Spencer was planning for his teachings with Zoriko in the meantime. Not to say that every white bird in the sky would make him wonder or head back to his window in wait.
. . .
The rogue hawk set up for travel with the letter, it would indeed take off with its more fair-feathered kin. Reassuringly so as it headed off to the East from where it had come, the second trailing behind with some sort of unspoken mission between them. Perhaps the elves merely had a way with wildlife of that manner.
. . .
When the birds did finally arrive, Spencer found himself all but running back to his house? Why? It had worked after all, despite his doubts. The second avian gave testament to the fact it had reached its destination all the same. The sight of a parcel equal to his own on the red tail's leg brought an excited grin to his face as he stepped inside and pulled the window open. The white hawk took its place on a perch waiting, so loyally trained to do so as of late with working with the raptor. He greeted the second with care as he worked to get the message off the fidgeting bird. When he managed to do so he offered some thanks and unraveled the piece of paper from the leather binding it.
. . .
A letter read in Raiya's tone, as well as he could remember it in the least. The further he went into the script, of course, a subconscious smile lingering as an afterthought. It grew more apparent in the answer of his little riddle... perhaps too easy for the other? He didn't dwell on it for much further before he put thought to the return.
. . .
Raiya's messenger was the first to return, the parcel absent meaning it had been delivered or shook free. Three days afterward from her send off the door received a knock. There stood Spencer, a cloak and messenger bag covering his figure for the most part. Underneath, an outfit far more attuned to the the times. A pair of faded jeans. A jacket with a long sleeve under that threatened to cover his hands if he let them. He was waiting ever so patiently outside the door with a modest grin in waiting for it to open.
The ground shook more intensely, revealing the beast to actually be the Nemean Lion. Crap, Novak thought, knowing their weapons wouldn't harm the lion at all.
"Get to higher ground!" He ordered her climbing up the nearest, sturdiest tree he could find. The lion charged without any means of stopping, to bring death upon them both. Suddenly, as if the air itself was...vibrating, the lion morphed into a small orange tabby kitten, mewing for affection. Novak, who was clinging onto a tree trunk for dear life, was completely dumbfounded about what just happened. Sliding down the tree, he held the kitten out to Raiya.
"Trust me, I'm just as confused as you are." Novak stated with a slight frown.
CHILDREN, THIS IS GAME HAS JUST BEGUN!!!
A voice thundered through the forest, as if the two were in a large room rather than outside. It was high-pitched, and shrieked from above them. Suddenly, the snap of fingers snapping brought their environment to vanish, surrounded by white. Novak looked completely bewildered. "I'm not doing any of this." He reassured Raiya, peering around. "I'm sure two war veterans can take on whoever is messing with them." He offered Raiya a smirk, as if it would bring any calmness to their situation.
OH? I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY
Another snap was heard, and their environment became something completely foreign to the both of them. Bright lights blinded them for a moment overheard, the roar of applause and cheer from an audience in front of them, and machines that people looked through took aim right at them, but seemed docile. Raiya had a platform with a microphone on it and Novak was standing on a small round stage on the other side of the stage, both of them had weights attached to their ankles and were surrounded by flashing neon lights and a decorative backdrop. A middle-aged man with his hair slicked back, strutted over to them and stood in between. He wore a dazzling, flashy golden suit, and wore an even more luminous smile over his face that obviously had plastic surgery done to it.
"Welcome back to the show, folks! We have our two lovely contestants, fresh and ready to go! Here's our first question for the young lady! What killed this young man's father?"
The host pointed his question card toward Novak, who was looking even more bewildered about his change in scenery.
-
9
-
10
-
11
-
12
-
13
of 15 Next